Florida Hosts First Official Kettlebell Competition
Florida’s first kettlebell competition, hosted by the American Kettlebell Alliance, will take place at Gym SRQ from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27. An additional four-hour workshop will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 6. The workshop will be open to the public, and will be taught by alliance founder Yuri Petunovs.
This will be the first competition the alliance has hosted since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last March, the alliance participated in the Arnold Classic Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, giving between 4,000 and 5,000 national kettlebell athletes a chance to compete. The Florida Open Championship at Gym SRQ will include about 20 to 40 competitors, both female and male, and ranging from light- to heavyweight and across all ages. Petunovs says there competitors as old as 75.
“We are bringing about 10 metric tons of kettlebells to this competition,” says Petunovs =. “I am bringing supply down from my gym in Connecticut, and we may need even more.”
Kettlebell Krusher Says:
While the number of participants is relatively small to most kettlebell events, consider how much weight is necessary. 10 metric tons is equivalent to roughly 20,000 lbs! If you divide that up into what the most commonly used kettlebell is (35 lbs.) that would be over 570 kettlebells. Unlike other weight lifting events, kettlebell competitions are about endurance. Exercises like the clean & jerk (long cycle) and snatch are typically timed in 10-minute sets. Whichever competitor has the most legal lifts at the end is the winner. It’s a mental feat as much as it is physical.
The choice of Florida as the state for this competition makes a lot of sense. It’s one of the few states in the U.S. that allow businesses to make their own decisions regarding lockdown rules. Currently, there are no orders enforcing limitations on capacities for gyms and fitness centers. In fact, I couldn’t find any COVID-related regulations for athletes and guests on the competition’s registration page.
For those of you in the Sarasota area and who are interested in kettlebells, a workshop is available the following weekend. American Kettlebell Alliance founder Yuri Petunovs shares his expertise and knowledge on the proper use of kettlebells. You’ll also learn about the many health benefits along with specific exercises for your next kettlebell workout. It’s a great way to reach your fitness goals without having to spend hours a day in a gym.
I found it interesting when Petunovs mentions burning up 3,000 calories while lifting kettlebells for an hour and afterward. I’ve always referenced the study of burning 400 calories in 20 minutes as one of the main reasons I choose kettlebells for weight loss. However, after recently getting into double kettlebell clean and jerk sets, I definitely understand how burning that many calories is possible. It’s one of the most exhausting kettlebell moves when performed over a long duration but very rewarding. For me, that’s only with two 35 lb. (16 kg.) or 25 lb. (12 kg.) kettlebells. That’s why I’m in complete awe when I read about male and female kettlebell lifters who are able to perform Two-Arm Long Cycle with double that weight!
